Device for connecting aligned rod shaped objects by a wrapper



H. KAEDING April'6, 1965 DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED ROD SHAPEDOBJECTS BY A WRAPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1962 April 6, 1965H. KAEDING 3,176,594

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ALIGNED ROD SHAPED OBJECTS BY A WRAPPER Filed June7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. KAEDING A ril 6, 1965 DEVICE FOR CONNECTINGALIGNED ROD SHAPED OBJECTS BY A WRAPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 7,1962 United States Patent Office 3,176,694 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 12Claims. 31. 131-9 4 This invention relates to cigarette makingmachinery, and more particularly to apparatus for connecting a cigarettefilter plug to the remainder of a cigarette by means of a sheet ofadhesive coated wrapping material in which the abutting portions of thecigarette and of the filter are wrapped by a rolling motion.

Equipment for automatically performing such an operation has beendisclosed in the Schubert Patent No. 3,001,- 528. In the known device, arod shaped plug of filter material and two lengths of a rod-shapedtobacco body enclosed in cigarette paper are fed in axial alignment tothe cylindrical surface of a drum equipped with radially projectingaxially elongated ribs or fins. Pieces of adhesive-coated connectorsheets are retained on the drum surface by the suction of a vacuum pumpconnected with orifices in the drum surface.

While in contact with a gummed connector sheet, each group of cigaretteelements consisting of a filter plug and two lengths of tobacco rodsaligned with the plug is rolled along the drum surface by contact with astationary rolling member having a rolling face parallel to the drumface and spaced therefrom a distance slightly smaller than the diameterof the group of elements which are to be assembled by means of theconnector sheet. The completed assembly in which the sheet is wrappedabout the plug and the adjacent abutting portions of the other cigaretteelements is removed from the drum and cut transversely through thefilter plug whereby two filter cigarettes are obtained from eachassembly.

The apparatus whose mode of operation is briefly described aboveperforms at high rates of output with satisfactory results. It has beenfound, however, that the known device cannot consistently produce goodassemblies from component parts which are out of round, and fromcomponent parts which are not precisely aligned.

The object of this invention is an improvement of the known deviceswhich permits handling of cigarette components which deviate from acircular cross section.

Another object is the improvement of the known devices whichautomatically aligns each assembled group of cigarette elements in afixed direction.

Yet another object is to facilitate separation of the group of elementsfrom the rolling members after assembly.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an apparatus of theinvention in its inoperative position, certain elements being brokenaway to afford a better view of others;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the device of FIG. 1 in another perspectiveView;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the device of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 in side elevation in theoperative position, with some portions broken away to reveal internalstructure; and

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a modified device of the invention in a viewcorresponding to a portion of FIG. 4.

Referring nowto FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawing, there is shown as much ofa device for assembling filter plugs with the other elements ofcigarettes as is needed for an understanding of the invention.

The two rolling members between which the rod shaped cigarette elementsare rolled in longitudinal alignment while in contact with an adhesivecoated connecting sheet are a generally cylindrical drum 1 and a rollingmember 2 which is stationary and closely adjacent the rotating drum 1when the apparatus is in its operative condition as shown in FIG. 4. Asseen in FIG. 1, the stationary member 2 has been removed from thecylindrical face of the drum 1 to its inoperative position assumedduring maintenance operations. The drum 1 is mounted on anon-illustrated driven shaft journaled in the machine frame. The drum 1continuously rotates in the direction of the arrow N.

Two pairs of lugs 3 project from the stationary memher 2 in a directionaway from the drum 1. Pins 5 connecting the lugs of each pair pivotallysupport a pusher member 4 which is a two-armed lever. One arm 6 of thepusher member adjacent the drum 1 is made of sheet metal and bent intothe shape of a portion of a cylindrical surface which is normallyparallel to the opposite cylindrical face of the drum 1 in the operativeposition of the stationary member 2. The member 2 itself has a faceportion 7 which normally extends in the same cylindrical surface as thebent portion of the arm 6. The face portion 7 and the cylindricalsurface of the arm 6 jointly constitute the rolling face associated withthe member 2.

The other arm 8 of pusher member extends away from the drum 1. A leafspring 13 has one end fastened to the arm 8, and the position of itsfree other end relative to the arm may be adjusted by means of anadjusting screw 14. A heavy helical compression spring 11 is interposedbetween the arm 8 and an abutment 12 fixed on the stationary rollingmember 2. The spring 11 normally holds the pusher member 4 in theillustrated position relative to the member 2 in which the arm 6 isclosely adjacent the face portion 7.

The spring 13 forms a click which cooperates with a ratchet wheel 9. Theteeth of the ratchet wheel 9 are constituted by lands of the originalcylindrical surface of the wheel between recesses 10 uniformly spacedabout the wheel circumference. Each of the recesses has a first wallwhich drops steeply toward the axis of the wheel 9, and a second wallhaving a more gradual slope. The wheel 9 is mounted on a shaft 17connected to the drive \of the apparatus for synchronized rotation ofthe wheel 9 in the direction of the arrow N with the drum 1 as willhereinafter be described in more detail.

The stationary rolling member 2 is mounted on a bracket 26 which isrotatable and axially slidable on a pivot pin 27. The pivot pin 27 isfixedly fastened to a block 28 which in turn is secured to an element 29of the stationary supporting frame of the apparatus which is nototherwise shown. The shafts of the drum 1 and of the wheel 9 arejournaled in this frame.

Three guide rails 31 of flat sickle shape spacedly extend over aportion'of the substantially cylindrical face of the drum 1. The railsof which only two are seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 have narrow edge faces 52opposite the cylindrical drum face. A portion of each face 52 extendingfrom the rolling area adjacent the stationary member 2 in a directionopposite to the arrow N is cylindrical and coaxial with the drum 1. Thethree guide rails 31 are-axially spaced from each other and are securedto the machine frame 'by brackets 32 and 32'. The bracket 32 carries anintegral abutment bar 30. A stud 33 fixed to the bar 3% passes throughaligned openings in the rails 31. Sleeves 121 are interposed on the stud33 between the rails 31 to hold them in axially spaced positions. Asimilar stud 33 equipped with non-illustrated sleeves is attached in ananalogous manner to the bracket 32, and the portion of the machine notseen in the drawing includes additional brackets, studs, and sleeves tomaintain the desired alignment of the rails 31.

M Two integral lugs 34, 35 spaced from each other in a directionparallel to the axis of the drum 1 project from the bracket 26 in agenerally radial direction. They have aligned respective openings 36 inwhich a locating pin 37 is longitudinally slidable. A free end of thepin 37 adjacent the lug 35 carries a spherical handle 38. A heavyhelical compression spring 39 is wound on the portion of the pin 37between the lugs 34 and 35. Its axial ends abut respectively against thelug 35 and against an adjustable collar 40 on the pin 37. The free end41 of the pin 37 adjacent the lug 34 is of conically tapering shape. Acircular recess 42 in the block 28 is located so as to be engageable bythe conical end 41 of the pin 37, but the spacing between the axis ofthe pivot pin 27 and the center of the recess 42 is smaller than thespacing of the axes of the pins 27 and 37.

' Two threaded stops 43 are mounted on the bracket 26 and extendtherefrom radially toward the drum 1. In the operative position of thedevice illustrated in FIG. 4, the stops 43 abut against the abutment bar30 and thereby limit pivotal movement of the stationary member 2 aboutthe pin 27 toward the drum 1.

The rolling face 7 of the member 2 and corresponding portions of thepusher member 4 are slotted in. five planes which are axially spaced andradial with respect to the shaft of the drum 1. Three slots 44 aredimensioned and located movably to receive respective guide rails 31 inthe operative position of the apparatus. Two wider and shallower slotsinterposed between the three slots 44 are intended to relieve therolling pressure of the stationary member 2. I

The generally cylindrical face of the drum a portion of which is betterseen in FIG. 2 carries integral radially projecting axially elongatedribs 15. The ribs 15 are uniformly spaced in a circumferential directionand define shallow troughs 45 therebetween which are portions of therolling face of the drum 1. The bottom of each trough 45 is divided intothree approximately equal axial portions by two rows of orifices 16communicating with a stationary vacuum chamber 117 within the drum. Thechamber is connected to a suction pump in a known man ner by means of aconduit of which only an orifice 118 is seen in the drawing.

The chamber 117 extends over the entire portion of the drum 1 in contactwith cigarette element groups G with the exception of the rolling areaopposite the stationary member 2. The bottom of each trough 45 in therolling face of the drum is corrugated. The corrugations 47 47' havesharp axially extending ridges and corresponding depressions. Thecorrugations 47 extend from the center of each trough 45' axiallysomewhat beyond each row of orifices 16. The corrugations 47' extendaxially inward from the end of each trough and are separated from thecentral corrugations 47 by a band 46 of smooth recessed drum surface.For cigarettes having a diameter of about -7 millimeters, the spacing ofthe ridges is preferably about one millimeter.

In each trough 45, a flank of one rib 15 leads the remainder of thetrough during rotation of the drum 1 in the direction of the arrow N,and the flank of another rib 15 trails. Each mib 15 thus has a leadingflank in one troughand a trailing flank in the next trough. Contiguouslyadjacent the trailing rib flank, an approximately cylindrically shapedgroove 51 extends in each trough bottom in an axial direction. Thegrooves 51 are'free from corrugations 47, 47. Several orifices 16a ofthe vacuum chamber 117 terminate in each groove 51 on the fiank of thecorresponding rib 15.

Reverting now to FIGS. 1 and 4, it is seen that the cylindrical narrowedge 52 of each guide rail 31 opposite the drum face is spaced from thecorrugated surface of the drum 1 in each trough bottom a distance asmaller than the radial distance b from the bottom of the groove 51. Thedistance a is smaller and the distance b is greater than the diameter ofa cigarette.

A feed wheel 119'having circumferentially spaced axial grooves 126 isrotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the drum 1 insynchronization with the latter. The axial grooves 120 in thecylindrical face of the wheel 119 are intersected by three axiallyspaced circumferential grooves 122. A wedge-shaped terminal portion 123of each rail 31 is received in each groove 122.

The aforedescribed apparatus operates as follows:

To move the rolling member 2 from the inoperative position shown in FIG.1 into its operative position illustrated in FIG. 4, the locating pin 37is withdrawn in the direction of the arrow H until the conical end 41 ofthe pin clears the block 28. The bracket 26, the stationary member 2,and the pusher member 4 participate in this movement in the direction ofthe arrow L. The bracket 26 may now be pivoted in the direction of thearrow K toward the surface of the drum 1 for engagement of the guiderails 31 in the slots 44, and registering of the end 41 of the locatingpin 37 with the recess 42 in the block 28.

Because of the intentional misalignment of the locating pin 37 with therecess 42, the free end 41 of the pin 37 wedgingly engages a wall of therecess, and the force of the spring 39 urges the threaded stops 43, thelength of which is suitably adjusted, against the bar 30.

The pivotal movement of the bracket 26 on the pin 27 causes the leafspring 13 to move in the direction of the arrow M into ratchetingengagement with the recesses 10 of the ratchet wheel 9. The drum 1 andthe wheel 9 are jointly driven by the non-illustrated main drive of theapparatus in such a manner that the wheel 9 rotates through an anglecorresponding to the angular spacing of two adjacent recesses 10 Whilethe drum 1 moves through an angle corresponding to the angular spacingof two adjacent ribs 15.

Groups G of cigarette elements G are formed in a known manner bylongitudinally aligning two rod shaped lengths 50 of tobacco Wrapped incigarette paper with an interposed rod-shaped plug 49 of filtermaterial. The rods 50 and 49 are approximately cylindrical, but thediameter of the filter plug 49 is slightly smaller than that of therod-shaped tobacco bodies 50. The groups of cigarette elements are fedto the wheel 119 in a known manner so that they are initially located inrespective axial grooves 120. When during rotation of the wheel 119, thegroups of cigarette elements reach the terminal portions 123 of theguide rails 31, they are lifted from the grooves 120 and sequentiallytransferred into respective troughs 45 in the surface of the drum 1contiguously adjacent the leading flank of a rib 15. They are held inthis position by the vacuum within the chamber 117 applied through theorifices 1601.

As the spring 13 travels over the ratchet face of the Wheel 9, thepusher member 4 is pivotally retracted from the rolling face of the drum1 while the spring moves outward of a recess 10 along the graduallysloping Wall of the recess. After reaching the land between twocircumferentially adjacent recesses 10, the spring abruptly drops intothe next recess 10 along the steep wall of the latter, thereby rapidlymoving the arm 6 of the pusher member 4 toward the drum 1.

The drives of the drum 1 and of the ratchet wheel 9 are synchronized insuch a manner that the pusher memher 4 at the moment of its suddenmovement toward the drum 1 is radially aligned with a group G ofcigarette elements entering the rolling area between the stationaryrolling faces 6, 7 and the rolling face of the drum 1. The condition ofsuch a group is illustrated at G in FIG. 2. It is superimposed on aconnecting sheet B laid down on the drum surface in a known manner andheldby the suction applied through orifices 16. The adhesive-coated faceof the sheet B is directed radially outward. Its two circumferentiallyterminal edge portions are respectively remote from and adjacent thegroove 5.1. The adjacent edge portion overhangs the groove 51.

The arm 6 of the pusher member 4, upon dropping of the spring 13 into arecess 10, forces the central portion of the group G into intimatecontact with the adhesivecoated face of the sheet B. The axial width ofthe sheet B is such as to extend over the length of the plug 49 and overthe longitudinally abutting portions of the two paper wrapped tobaccorods '50.

Continued rotation of the drum 1 relative to the stationary faces 6, 'iwith which the group G is in contact causes rolling movement of thegroup about its longitudinal axis in the direction of thearrows O assequentially shown at (3 to G in FIG. 2. The circumferential width ofeach trough 45 between adjacent ribs about equals the circumferentiallength of th connecting sheet B and is greater than the circumference ofthe groups G. The sheet B initially adhered to the group G by thepressure of the pusher member 4 is gradually wrapped about the group asthe same rolls from the leading flank of one rib to the trailing flankof the other rib defining the respective trough 45. The wrapped group Gwhose elements 49, 50 are now connected by the sheet B is deposited inthe conforming cylindrical groove 51. If due to any cause, the elementsof a group G should not be aligned axially when approaching the groove,the misalignment will be corrected by engagement of the group with thegroove 51, thus facilitating later separation of the group from the drum1 in a known manner.

The corrugations 47, 47' practically prevent the elements of a group Gfrom moving out of axial alignment while being rolled between thecooperating faces of the drum 1 and the stationary member 2. Thecorrugations also facilitate joining a plug 49 with paper wrappedtobacco rods 50. Thediameter of the paper wrapped tobacco rod 5f isusually slightly larger than that of the filter plug 49 as shown in FIG.3. When the group G is rolled between the parallel rolling faces, thetobacco rods 54 are radially compressed so that their cigarette paperwrapping becomes too Wide. The excess paper in the free end portions ofthe rods 51 is again taken up by expansion of the rods when the pressureis relaxed. The wrapped sheet B makes such relaxation impossible in aportion of the tobacco rod 59 adjacent the lateral edge 53 of thewrapped sheet B as seen in FIG. 3.

During rolling over the corrugations 47, the excess paper is forced intothe recesses between the ridges of the corrugations and thus formsnarrow folds S4 barely visible to the unaided eye and shown in FIG. 3 ona somewhat exaggerated scale for the sake of clarity. The folds arefixed by the connecting sheet B. In the absence of corrugations 47, theexcess paper may accumulate during rolling of the group G and finally befixed by the sheet B in the form of an undesirable relatively largepocliet which upon release from the roiling area would be filled withair and would by-pass at least a portion of the tobacco rod 59 in anundesirable manner.

The bottom of groove 51 is sufficiently lower than the ridges of thecorrugations 4'7, 4'7 to relieve the pressure of the rolling face '7 onthe completely wrapped group G Frictional forces exerted by the rollingface '7 in a circumferential direction are reduced to an insignificantamount, and cannot press the finished group G tightly against thetrailing flank of a rib Any deformation or other damage to the groupresulting from such circumferential forces is thus avoided.

Any movement of the completed assembly of cigarette elements relative tothe drum 1 while traveling from the rollin g area to a discharge stationat which the assemblies are removed from the drum 1 in a known manner isprevented by the suction applied through orifices 16a. In the event offailure of the vacuum system, the rails 31 retain the cigarette elementson the drum 1.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the spacing of the grooves 51 and the locationsof the orifices 16a in the flanks of the ribs 15 are selected in such amanner that respective free edge portions of the sheets B overhang thegrooves 51 prior to rolling, but do not extend circumferentially to theorifices 16a. When a finished rolled assembly reaches a groove 51adjacent the trailing flank of a rib 15, the orifices 1 312 in thatflank make contact with a portion of the sheet B spaced from thepreviously overhanging free edge portion of the latter. The remainder ofthe assembly is thereby urged inward of the groove 51 into sealingcontact with the free edge portion of the sheet B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the axial width of the rails 31 is much smaller thanthat of the face 7. Two of the rails 31 are axially offset from the drum1, andthe third rail 31 is aligned with the filter plug whose diameteris somewhat less than the diameter of the wrapped tobacco rods.Therefore, the rails 31 have little, if any, rolling effect. The groupsof cigarette elements arequite resilient, and the spatial relationshipillustrated in FIG. 4 does not interfere with proper operation of theapparatus.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of a portion of the apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4 which achieves secure adhesive sealing of the free edgeportion of the sheet B in a somewhat different manner. In the apparatuspartly shown in FIG. 5 and otherwise identical with that seen in FIGS. 1to 4, the guide rails 31 have a projecting portion 124 of a lengthapproximately equal to A2 of the spacing of successive ribs 15. Eachprojecting portion 124 has a coaxial pressure face opposite the drum 1in the portion of the rolling area in which rolling of each group ofcigarette elements is completed. The radial spacing of the pressure facefrom the bottom of the groove 51 in which the rolled group is eventuallydeposited is slightly smaller'than the average diameter of the group sothat the finished rolled product is urged inward of the group by thepressure of the projecting rail portion l24, whereby the free edgeportion of the connecting sheet B is securely adhered to the remainderof the rolled assembly. The modified apparatus shown in FIG. 5 ispreferably limited in its application to connecting sheets B having alow coeficient of friction with respect to the guide rail 31. It isevident that there is relative movement and friction between portions ofthe connecting sheet and the face of the guide rail portion 12 while theassembly is held in the groove 51. This may result in damage to theconnecting sheet unless it is very smooth.

It should be understood of course that the foregoing disclosure relatesto only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intendedto cover all changes and modifications of the example of the inventionherein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for connecting two elongated rod shaped objects inlongitudinal alignment and in longitudinally abutting relationship bymeans of a connecting sheet wrapped about and adhered to the abuttingportions of said objects, said objects being of approximately circularcross section and having a predetermined average diameter, incombination:

(a) a drum member having a generally cylindrical roll ing face, saiddrum member being rotatable about the axis thereof; 7

(b) a plurality of axially elongated ribs on said face, said ribs beinguniformly spaced from each other about the axis of said drum member andtwo circumferentially adjacent ones of said ribs defining therebetween atrough portion of said face, said trough portion being formed with anaxially elongated recess contiguously adjacent one of said ribs anddimensioned partly to receive said objects, said one rig having a flankin said recess;

() a stationary rolling member having another rolling face opposite aportion of the face of said drum member and substantially parallelthereto, said other face being spaced from said recess a distancegreater than said diameter, and from the remainder of said troughportion a distance smaller than said diameter;

(d) first retaining means on said trough portion outside said recessthereof for releasably retaining thereon an adhesive coated connectingsheet in such a position that two circumferentially terminal portions ofsaid sheet are respectively remote from and adjacent said recess,whereby said objects when placed between said rolling faces insimultaneous contact with said remotely spaced terminal portion and saidother rolling face while substantially axially aligned with each other,are rolled between said faces, wrapped in said sheet, and deposited insaid recess when said drum rotates in a predetermined direction;

(e) second retaining means on said flank for retainingd the wrappeddeposited objects in said recess; an

(1) guide rail means opposite the rolling face of said drum member, aportion of said guide rail means 'being radially spaced from said recessa distance smaller than said diameter and constituting a pressure meansfor urging said objects against said adjacent terminal portion of saidsheet during rotation of said drum in said predetermined direction.

2. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, second pressure means forurging said objects against said sheet during rotation of said drum insaid predetermined direction, said pressure means including a pushermember movably mounted on said stationary member, and actuating meansfor rotating said drum about said axis and for moving said pusher membertoward and away from said drum in synchronization with the rotation ofsaid drum.

3. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said actuating meansincluding means for moving said pusher member toward and away from saiddrum during an angular movement of said drum about the axis thereofcorresponding to the circumferential spacing of said twocircumferentially adjacent ribs.

4. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said actuating meansincluding means for moving said pusher member in a direction toward saiddrum when said remote terminal portion of said sheet is opposite saidpusher member in the direction of movement thereof.

5. In an apparatus for connecting two rod shaped objects of roundedcross-section and of predetermined average diameter in alignmentrelative to a common axis and in axially abutting relationship by meansof an adhesivecoated connecting sheet wrapped about the abuttingportions of said objects, in combination,

a first rolling member having a first rolling face;

a second rolling member having a second rolling face located oppositesaid first rolling face and spaced therefrom in a predetermineddirection a distance similar to and smaller than said diameter, saidfaces forming a rolling zone therebetween;

actuating means for moving said faces relative to each othertransversely of said direction, said first face being formed with arecess dimensioned to partly receive said objects when connected andsaid recess having a bottom spaced from said second face a distancegreater than said diameter and being elongated in a direction transverseof the direction of relative movement of said rolling members;

retaining means on said first face for releasably retaining thereon anadhesive-coated connecting sheet in such a position that two terminalportions of sa d sheet are respectively remote from and ad acent saidrecess in said direction of relative movement whereby said objects, whenplaced between said faces in simultaneous contact with said remotelyspacedterminal portion and with said second face while axially orientedsubstantially parallel to the direction of elongation of said recess,are rolled about said common axis, wrapped in said sheet, and depositedin said recess; and I elongated guide means extending through sa drolling zone and beyond said second rolling face in the direction ofrelative movement of said faces and spaced from said first face adistance similar to and smaller than said diameter, said guide meansbeing spaced from said bottom of said recess a distance greater thansaid diameter and being arranged to hold the objects against said firstface during relative movement of said faces independently of saidretaining means. 6. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 5, two ribmeans projecting from said first face toward said second face and spacedfrom each other in said direction of movement, said rib means definingtherebetween a rolling face portion formed with said recess, said ribmeans each being elongated in the direction of elongation of saidrecess, said retaining means being on said face portion.

7. In an apparatus as set forth. in claim 6, said recess beingcoiitiguously adjacent one of said rib means.

8. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, a plurality of corrugationsin said rolling face portion.

9. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, a plurality of corrugationson said rolling face portion ad acent sa d retaining means, saidcorrugations being elongated in the direction of elongation of saidrecess.

10. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 9, said rolling face portionbeing partly free from corrugation, the free part of said rolling faceportion being spaced from said retaining means.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first rollingmember has an axis and said first rolling face is of substantiallycircular cross section having a center located on said axis, said firstactuating means being arranged to rotate said first rolling member aboutsaid axis and said second face extending circumferentially over aportion of said first face, said guide means having an axial lengthsmaller than the axial length of said second face and extendingcircumferentially beyond said second face, and further comprising secondactuating means for moving a portion of said second face toward and awayfrom said first face in synchronism w th the relative movement of saidfaces actuated by said first mentioned actuating means.

12. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further retaining means insaid recess for retaining therein said object when deposited in saidrecess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,331 8/99Russell 131-56 XR 1,070,818 8/ 13 Lacroix. 2,798,495 7/57 Molins 131942,809,639 10/57 Edwards 131-94 3,036,581 5/62 Dearsley l3l94 3,058,47510/6'2 Gamberini l3 l-94 3,093,143 6/63 Rudszinat et a1 13l94 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,242,418 8/ 60 France.

459,903 1/37 Great Britain. 776,777 6/57 Great Britain.

851,341 10/60 Great Britain.

872,047 7/ 61 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

5. IN AN APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TWO ROD SHAPED OBJECTS OF ROUNDEDCROSS-SECTION AND OF PREDETERMINED AVERAGE DIAMETER IN ALIGNMENTRELATIVE TO A COMMON AXIS AND IN AXIALLY ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP BY MEANSOF AN ADHESIVECOATED CONNECTING SHEET WRAPPED ABOUT THE ABUTTINGPORTIONS OF SAID OBJECTS, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST ROLLING MEMBER HAVINGA FIRST ROLLING FACE; A SECOND ROLLING MEMBER HAVING A SECOND ROLLINGFACE LOCATED OPPOSITE SAID FIRST ROLLING FACE AND SPACED THEREFROM IN APREDETERMINED DIRECTION A DISTANCE SIMILAR TO AND SMALLER THAN SAIDDIAMETER, SAID FACES FORMING A ROLLING ZONE THEREBETWEEN; ACTUATINGMEANS FOR REMOVING SAID FACES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TRANSVERSELY OFSAID DIRECTION, SAID FIRST FACE BEING FORMED WITH A RECESS DIMENSIONEDTO PARTLY RECEIVE SAID OBJECTS WHEN CONNECTED AND SAID RECESS HAVING ABOTTOM SPACED FROM SAID SECOND FACE A DISTANCE GREATER THAN SAIDDIAMETER AND BEING ELONGATED IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF THE DIRECTIONOF RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLING MEMBERS; RETAINING MEANS ON SAIDFIRST FACE FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING THEREON AN ADHESIVE-COATEDCONNECTING SHEET IN SUCH A POSITION THAT TWO TERMINAL PORTIONS OF SAIDSHEET ARE RESPECTIVELY REMOTE FROM AND ADJACENT SAID RECESS IN SAIDDIRECTION OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT WHEREBY SAID OBJECTS, WHEN PLACED BETWEENSAID FACES IN SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT WITH SAID REMOTELY SPACED TERMINALPORTION AND WITH SAID SECOND FACE WHILE AXIALLY ORIENTED SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATION OF SAID RECESS, ARE ROLLED ABOUTSAID COMMON AXIS, WRAPPED IN SAID SHEET, AND DEPOSITED IN SAID RECESS;AND ELONGATED GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ROLLING ZONE AND BEYONDSAID SECOND ROLLING FACE IN THE DIRECTION OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAIDFACES AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST FACE A DISTANCE SIMILAR TO AND SMALLERTHAN SAID DIAMETER, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM OFSAID RECESS A DISTANCE GREATER THAN SAID DIAMETER AND BEING ARRANGED TOHOLD THE OBJECTS AGAINST SAID FIRST FACE DURING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OFSAID FACES INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID RETAINING MEANS.